Sterilization or treatment apparatus



Aug. 17, 1943. G. SPERTI 2,327,142

STERILIZATION OR TREATMENT lfxPPARATUS Filed July 30, 1940 4 INVENTOR.

5 I GEO/P65 SPERTI.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 17, 1943 STERILIZATION on TREATMENT APPARATUS "/George'Sp'erti, Covington, Ky., assignor to Science Laboratories, Inc.,Norwood, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July so, 1940, Serial No. 348,383 12Claims. (Cl. sac-51) My invention relates to apparatustmeans and V amethod for the use of light sources employing an. arc struck betweenelectrodes in an envelope containing an ionized gas,;and in particularto the control and operationof suchdevices in such away that instantresponse is assured; Ishall describe my invention in connection with an:apparatus for the quick sterilization of glassesor other containers. 3

An object of my inventionis the provision of means and a mode ofoperation whereby without the expenditure of full operating current,lamp devices may be maintained in a condition'whereby the full power ofthe irradiation isinstantly available when desired. Light sourcesof thetype hereinabove referred to, require an-appreciable time to come intooperation. When a cold lamp is turned on it is necessary first toionizethe atmosphere within thelamp before the main arc discharge can becreated between the electrodes. This is a matter of no consequence incontinuous treatment devices; but where the use ofthe device is sporadicor non-continuous, it is frequently inconvenient, costly or impossibletowait. at each operation for the light sources to come into fullefficiency. Thus in the particular embodiment which will hereinafter bedescribed, instant sterilization of the glasses or. containers isrequired when they are presented to the apparatus; yet in restaurants,soda fountains: and. similar. businesses, the use of the apparatus willbe discontinuous and sporadic.

It would be uneconomical to keep the light sources in full operation atall times due to cur.- rent consumption, as well as to the consequentshortening of the life of the light sources. Yet the use of theapparatus would be impractical if upon the presentation of each glass tobe sterilize the operator had to wait for cold light sources to startand come up to full operating efficiency. Moreover, in a particular usewhich will be described, the very great number of starting operationscompared with the total length of time during which the light source orsources are in full operation, would in itself out down the useful lifeof the light sources.

As applied to the specific embodiment, myin- I vention has for itsobject the provision of a small, neat, attractive but-inexpensiveterilizer for glasses or other containers, which can be placed upon acounter, serving table'or the like, and used by the regular staff of thefood or beverage dispensing business with. no significant loss of time.It is further an object of my invention to provide such a sterilizingapparatus which nevertheless will be positively effective in destroyinpathological and other growths of micro-organ isms for the greatersafety of the consuming public.

1943 and entitled Light sources.

Itis further an'object of my invention to provide a device, theoperation of which is not a matter of significant cost either as to theapparatus involved, or as to the operation thereof.

These and other objects, of my invention which will be set forthhereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon readingthese specifications, I accomplish in that structure, assembly and modeof operation of which I shall now describe the aforesaid exemplaryembodiment.

\ Reference is made to the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through my exemplary device.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. l. Thesection line |l on this figure indicates the direction of the sectionalview which is Fig. 1. V V

Fig. 3 is an exemplary wiring diagram.

My invention is not limited to any particular form of envelope lightsource including arcs. I

may employ with it, by way of example but without limitation, the typeof'apparatus described in my co-pending applicationv entitled Ultraviolet light source, Serial No. 350,425 filed August 3, 1940, now PatentNo. 2,284,775, issued June 2, 1942, and I will describe it in thisconnection. However, I may use other light sources including,

but again without limitation, light sources such as are described inthe. co-pending application of John R. Stirnk-orb, Serial No. 345,807filed July 16, 1940, new Patent No. 2,307,971, issued Jan, When lightsources requiring external starting means are employed, it will beobvious to the ski ed Work in the art how such starting means may beemployed with such light sources from the teachings hereinafter made. r

Briefly in the practice of my invention I provide one or more lightsources (sufficient to give the strength of irradiation required), andafter starting the light sources I maintain them in a condition ofcontinuous discharge but at relatively low Wattage.

The wattage need only be such as to maintain the discharge with reason-.alole commercial certainty. In this way frequent 7 represents a basewhich may be provided with feet 4. This base supports a housing in twoparts, 5 and 5a, the parts being separable to give access to theapparatus enclosed within them. In the particular embodiment I employ achoke,

.both as anecessary stabilizing impedance and.

also as a means for varying the wattage consumed by the light sources.This choke comarticle for treatment to lessen the effect of saidimpedance, whereby the wattage applied to said source is increasedduring the time the article is so presented.

2. A mode of operation of a treatment device including an arc source ofultra violet radiation, power supply means therefor and a stabilizingimpedance which comprises maintaining said are source in a state ofcontinuous arc discharge at relatively low wattage consumption, andcausing an article presented to said means to vary said impedance,whereby to operate said arc at a different wattage to which said are isinstantly responsive.

3. In a treatment device an arc source of ultra violet radiation, powersupply means for maintaining said source in a condition of continuousdischarge, a controlling impedance, means to be contacted by an articlepresented for treatment,

5. In a treatment device an arc source of ultra violet radiation andcomprising an envelope containing arc discharge electrodes, a source ofpower, a controlling impedance having a sumcient value to maintain thearc discharge at a relatively low wattage, and means for causing thepresentation of an article for treatment to lessen the value of saidimpedance whereby the are discharge is caused to take place at higherwattage with higher radiation.

6. In a treatment device an arc source of 'ultra violet radiation andcomprising an envelope containing arc discharge electrodes, a source ofpower, a controlling impedance having a sufficient value to maintain thearc discharge at a relatively low wattage, and means for causing thepresentation of an article for treatment to lessen the value of saidimpedance whereby the arc discharge is caused to take place at higherwattage with higher radiation, said impedance being a choke coil, andsaid last mentioned means comprising switch means for rendering partonly of said choke coil effective as an impedance.

7. In a treatment device an arc source of ultra violet radiation andcomprising an envelope containing arc discharge electrodes, a source ofpower, a controlling impedance having a sumcient value to maintain thearc discharge at a relatively low wattage, and means for lessening thevalue of said impedance upon the presentation of an article fortreatment whereby the arc discharge is caused to take place at higherwattage with higher radiation, said impedance being a choke coil, andsaid last mentioned means comprising switch means for rendering partonly of said choke coil effective as an impedance, said switch meansbeing a double throw double pole switch, having two poles connected tosaid source and two poles connected respectively to one end and to anintermediate tab on said impedance, means actuated by the presentationof an article for treatment and a mechanical connection between saidmeans and said switch.

8. In a sterilization apparatus for articles, a housing, an arcdischarge device in said housing,

power leads for said device and an impedance of a value suflicient tomaintain said device in a state of discharge at low wattage, meansagainst which an article for treatment may be presented, a switch, aconnection between said means and said switch, and a connection betweensaid switch and said impedance whereby to render a portion of saidimpedance inactive upon the actuation of said switch.

9. In a device of the character described, a

' discharge at low wattage, and means in connection with said engagementmeans for increasing the wattage of said discharge upon the presentationof an article. I

10. In a device of the character described, a base, a housing attachedto said base, an impedance attached to said base and a sub-base mountedon said impedance, a source of ultra violet radiation mounted withinsaid housing on said sub-base, means to be actuated by the presentationof an article for treatment movably mounted onsaid sub-base, a switcharranged to be actuated thereby and connections between said switch andsaid impedance whereby upon actuation of said movablemeans the operationof said source of ultra violet light is caused to take place atincreased wattage.

11. In a device of the. character described, a base, a housing attachedto said base, an impedance attached to said base and a sub-base mountedon said impedance, a source of ultra violet radiation mounted withinsaid housing on said sub-base, means to be actuated by the presentationof an article for treatment movably mounted on said sub-base, a switcharranged to be actuated thereby and connections between said switch andsaid impedance whereby upon actuation of said movable means theoperation of said source of ultra violet light is caused to take placeat increased wattage, said means to be actuated upon thepresentation ofan article comprising a head and a slidable shaft, and said switchcomprising a rockable mercury switch arranged for actuation by saidshaft, said housing being perforated for the reception of said articlein a position to be contacted by said head.

12. In a device of the character described, a base, a housing attachedto said base, an impedance attached to said base and a sub-base mountedon said impedance, a source of ultra violet radiation mounted withinsaid housing on said sub-base, means to be actuated by the presentationof an article for treatment movably mounted on said sub-base, a switcharranged to be actuated thereby and connections between said switch andsaid impedance whereby upon actuation of said movable means theoperation

